Your Guide for Hiking During Quarantine

 Hiking is a great way to stay active, maintain strength and elevate your mood and mental health. Most of us could use some mood elevation right about now, although in these unique times we cannot just grab our gear and hit the trail like we used to. With some planning and preparation, you can still get your hiking fix while protecting yourself and being respectful of others.  

Here are some tips to follow for hiking during quarantine:

Skip the National Park Hike

We have some beautiful National Parks in the U.S. and you might feel them calling your name if you have some free time on your hands.  We recommend that you keep your hikes local as much as possible and be aware that many National Parks are understaffed or not staffed at all to protect park employees and the public. Be sure to call the Ranger station and check the rules for the trails you plan to tackle. 

Stick with a Small Group

We already know that we should maintain contact with a small group and not be socializing with large groups of people.  With one or two people on the trail, you should be OK by most standards to keep your distance from one another and any other hikers on the trail.  Find a buddy and enjoy your hike but save the group hikes for later.

Choose the Right Trail

Avoiding large crowds goes for on the trail also, which means that you might be more comfortable and safer on a wider trail.  Try to go during off-times when the trail is less likely to be busy.  Try to find some off the beaten path trails that are not the most popular favorites most hikers flock to. 

Do Not Hike Right After a Rain

You should generally wait at least 24 to 48 hours after a rain before hitting the trail, to protect yourself from flash flooding or slippery paths and also to protect the trail from erosion.  Some trails will close after a rain for these very reasons so plan ahead and be sure your trail is open.

Get ready with quality hiking trekking poles, camping chairs, roto-molded coolers and more.  

Cascade Mountain Tech offers quality camping and hiking gear for the beginner to the advanced hiker.  We have all the gear you need for hiking during quarantine and any other time with quality camping and hiking gear built to last.  Contact us with any questions on how to hike safely during quarantine.